Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a report (details supplied) regarding a school (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14959/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware Budget 2012 provided for a cut in capitation to schools of 2% in both 2012 and 2013 and a further 1% in both 2014 and 2015.

Due to my decision of 21 February, to retain posts from previous disadvantage schemes in 140 DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools, it was necessary to generate alternative savings within the primary education budget. This has been achieved by bringing forward to 2012 from 2013, 1.5% of the 2% cut in primary school capitation agreed by Government as part of Budget 2012 in addition to the 2% cut already notified to primary schools for 2012.

In addition I announced in November 2011 that in order to focus on meeting the need for additional school places nationwide, it is unlikely that there will be funding available for summer works or minor works in the coming years.

While a key priority for me is to continue to prioritise and target resources at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage, the current economic climate and the challenge to meet significant targets on reducing public expenditure, particularly given the upward pressures on teacher numbers and in the context of operating under a fixed ceiling on teacher numbers affords no capacity to exclude any school from the cuts to mainstream capitation.

However, this school continues to receive the DEIS grant which has no been affected by the Budget measures. In addition, the following resources continue to be provided:- additional Book Grant over and above that paid to other schools- additional staffing to implement more favourable class sizes- allocation of administrative principals on lower enrolment than apply in primary schools generally- access to School Completion and Home School Community Liaison- access to School Meals provision- access to literacy/numeracy supports such as reading recovery, maths recovery, first steps- access to a range of professional development supports- access to homework clubs and transfer programmes- access to planning supports